Oklahoma research scientists develop new tool

Scientists at Oklahoma City biopharmaceutical company Pure Protein LLC have achieved a breakthrough that could have substantial applications for the $37 billion autoimmune disease market, transplantation, infectious diseases, cancer and other new disease targets, the company said.

Chief Scientist William Hildebrand and his team have developed soluble Class II human leukocyte antigens, which should help researchers who need a supply of pure antigens.

William C. Strieber, Pure Protein executive vice president, said the company is looking forward to collaborations sparked by the new technology.

"Our development of an efficient way to produce soluble Class II gives Pure Protein an extraordinary opportunity to create many new avenues to the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmunity, infectious diseases, cancer and transplantation-related maladies," Strieber said.

Pure Protein specializes in immunology tools for diagnostics and vaccine development to address medical needs and major market opportunities for new disease targets. Pure Protein was formed in 1999 to commercialize research developed at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

Without the new antigens developed by Hildebrand, laboratories and companies are limited in the quantities and purities of the HLA proteins they use, officials said.